Cooler



Feb., w, 1932.

` E. w. wEscoTT COOLER Filed Jan. 25. 1927 i Wsw" En .f v* l am@ is j tEi 'A'. f

. f77/Lenker' EPM/est W Wege/Dt Patented Feb. 16, 1932 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST W. WESCOTT, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO STATOR REFRIGERATION, INC.,l A CORPORATION F DELAWARE COOLER Application filed January 25, 1927. Serial No. 163,371.

This invention relates to a cooler adapted to be used in conjunction with a refrigerating system and ordinarily both to cool a food compartment in a refrigerator and to freeze ice for household purposes or the like. A cooler of this type may be advantageously used in conjunction with a variety of refrigerating systems which are characterized by the use of a refrigerant or a cooling medium which occurs in the cooler in its liquid phase, and which is evaporated out of the cooler; for example, a cooler of this type is particularly suitable for use in a refrigerating system of the type disclosed in the copending application of Eastman A. Weaver, Serial No.

733,699, filed August 23, 1924, which has issued as Patent No. 1,761,555, or copending applications of Lyman F. /Vhitney, Serial Nos. 159,342 and 159,344, both filed on January 6, 1927 which have now issued as Patents No. 1,756,802 and No. 1,761,606.

The invention more particularly pertains to a thermally elicient cooler in which the refrigerant need be only slightly below the normal freezing temperature of water and yet may impart sufficient cooling effect to water containers located thereon to provide ice for household purposes, at the same time providing refrigeration in the usual manner; baffle plates or partitions being arranged in the cooler t0 facilitate a thermosiphonic circulation of the refrigerant which will provide the lowest temperature at the pa-rt of the cooler where the ice is to be produced and which at the same time will cooperate with the normal cyclic action and How of the refrigerant through the system. The invention also discloses means whereby a higl'ily eihcient rate of heat conduction may readily be provided between the ice trays and the surface of the refrigerant.

The above and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoined description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section of one type of cooler;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another form of cooler; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the form of cooler shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly to F igs. 1 and 2 thereof, a cooler of the type forming the subject matter of the present invention may comprise an outer casing l having an upstanding outlet head 2 with an outlet pipe 3 connected thereto and being adapted to permit emission of evaporated refrigerant vapor out of the cooler in any suitable manner, for example as disclosed in the above-entitled copending applications. The cooler is preferably provided with partitions or baille plates to aid the circulation of the refrigerant in an elicient manner to cooperate with the general movement of fluid throughout the cycle and the system, and is also preferably provided with a horizontal supporting surface, as for example the flat top 4, to hold suitable containers for the production ofl ice for household use. The cooler top 4 may be of any suitable heat conducting material and `is provided with downwardly projecting fins or plates 5 which are adapted to extend below the normal level 6 of liquid refrigerant; the plates and cooler top preferably being joined to provide a high degree of heat conductivity, for example being welded or otherwise intimatelyjoined. The

surface 4 is preferably provided with an upstanding rim 21 in order to comprise a pan upon the top of the cooler for the retention of liquid for purposes which will presently be described.

The end of the cooler adjoining outlet 3 is preferably divided into two regions by a vertically disposed baffle plate or partition 7, the ends of which terminate short of the top and bottom of the cooler casing. This partition supports horizontal baifles 8 staggered in relation to one or more bailies 9 which may be secured to the adjoining side wall of the cooler; plates 8 and 9 having depending outer flanges 15 whereby movement of refrigerant adjoining that wall is retarded and caused to occur in eddies rather than in a direct current. The cooler may also be conveniently divided into two parts by a s ubstantiall horizontal partition 13 which joins the p ate 7 at one end and the other end of which terminates in a depending extension 19, spaced from outer wall of the cooler to permit circulation of refrigerant. A baiiie plate 25 may extend upwardly from the bottom of the cooler parallel to partition 7 as shown, to aid the desired circulation of refrigerant and prevent any objectionable counter-current below member 13.

A suitable inlet pipe 12 witha plurality of outlets 23 extends into the lower part of the cooler below one of the baffle plates 8 and is adapted to introduce warm refrigerant from a condenser or the like into the cooler. Preferably pipe 12 asflwell as theedges 15 of baffle plates 8 and 9 are serrated to cause better mixing of incoming refrigerant liquid with the solution in the cooler.

A cooler of this type is adapted to receive warm refrigerant through the pipe 12, and more particularly is suited for use with a refrigerant which differs in composition in the liquid and vapor, phases, for instance water in the form of acaustic or saline solution, so that freezing thereof will not take place at usual freezing point of water, but rather somewhat below that tem erature. refrigerant such as water eing received in the pipe 12 leaves the same through the open end thereof and numerous openings 23, and tends to have its upward flow retarded by the baffles. Thus the upwardly moving current of refrigerant is gradually cooled as it apl proaches outlet 3. The surface of the liquid refrigerant being subject to rapid evaporation is intensely cold and cools the depending fins or plates 5 to a comparatively low temperature. Suitable metal trays 33 are placed upon the top 4 of the cooler and may rest in a layer of water. or of a solution having a depressed freezing point such as a salt or sugar solution which is retained in place by the upstanding rim 21, thus affording much better heat conduction between the trays and the cooler top with its depending fins than would be possible were the trays 23 only surrounded by air, and were a thin air`J film to exist between the bottom of the trays and the top of the cooler.

Since refrigerant leaving the pipe 12 is comparatively warm and refrigerant adjoining the plates 5 is cold, thermosiphonic circulation of the refrigerant is induced in the direction of the arrow (Fig. l) Such a tendency is aided when the refrigerant is a saline or similar solution, since liquid leaving the pipe 12 would be in its pure or free state and would be comparatively light, thereby tending to enhance the natural tendency of the warmer liquid to rise, while as it mixes with the solution, the latter .becomes dilutedA and has its density decreased. On the other hand, the surface liquid adjoining the plates 5 would Warm tend to become rapidly heavier due to cona stant evaporation and the resulting increase of suspended soluble matter so that the weight of the liquid near the end of plate 13 would tend to cause its downward flow.

The cooler is shown as provided with downwardly extending ducts 36 and 37 located below the inlet 12, which are particularly useful lin conjunction with a refrigerating system using a heavy propellent fluid to pump the refrigerant, as for example mercury aspirated in the manner disclosed in the above described copending applications; an outlet of this type serving to permit the drainage of propellent fluid through a suitable liquid duct 38, as described more specifically in said applications, while refrigerant entrained with the mercury in pipe 36 may rise to the top of duct 38 and return to the cooler through pipe 37 which extends above the bottom of the cooler.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which an L-shaped casing 41 is provided so that the4 form of the cooler itself and particularly the relation of the Y partitions 7 and 13 to the adjoining walls 27 and 28 respectively aid the natural circulation of refrigerant and dispenses with necessity for providing baiiie plate 25 or the de` pending iiange 19 as illustrated in the other form of cooler.

I claim:

1. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the upper end thereof and an inlet near the lower end thereof, and baffle plates to aid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said baiiie plates forming a comparatively short passage between the inlet and outlet and a comparatively long passage between the outlet and inlet respectively.

2. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the upper end thereof and an inlet near the lower end thereof, and baffle plates to aid circulation `of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said baffle plates forming a compartively short passage between the inlet and outlet and a comparatively long passage between the outlet and inlet respectively, the first named passage having staggered bales projecting therein to impede the direct flow of refrigerant.

3. A cooler for refrigeration comprising a container, an outlet near the upper end thereof and an inlet near the lower end thereof and baffle plates togaid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said balie plates forming a comparatively short passagebetween the inlet and outlet and a comparatively long passage between the outlet and inlet respectively, the first named passage having staggered plates projecting therein, said plates having downwardly extending serrated flanges to cause in- 1,845,640 s fi fie plates above the' inlet duct to aid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said inlet.

duct comprising a substantially horizontal passage with a plurality of openings into the cooler. f

5. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the upper portion of one end thereof, an inlet near the lower portion of that end, and baffle plates to aid circulation vof refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said plates comprising an approximately vertically disposed plate near said end of the cooler and an approximately horizontally disposed plate having one extremity near the upper end of the vertically disposed plate.

6. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the upper portion of one end thereof, an inlet near the lower portion of that end, and baiile plates to air circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet,said plates including an approximately vertically disposed plate near said end of the cooler and an approximately horizontally disposed plate having one extremity near the upper end of the vertical-ly disposed plate and the other extremity spaced from the opposite end of the cooler.

7. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the .upper portion' of one end thereof, an inlet near the lower portion of that end and baffle plates to aid circulation of refrigerant in ya predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said plates comprising an approximately vertically disposed plate near the inlet and an approximately horizontally disposed plate hav ing one extremity near .the upper end of the vertically disposed plate, and the other extremity spaced from the opposite end of the cooler and terminating in a depending flange.

8. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising al" container, an outlet near the upper portion of one end thereof, an inlet near the lower portion of that end, and b'alile plates to aid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said plates comprising an approximately vertically disposed plate near said end of the cooler and an approximately horizontal disposed plate having one extremity near the upper end of the vertically disposed plate, and a third baflie plate extending upward from the bottom of the cooler and having its upper end spaced from the horizontal plate.

9. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the upper portion of one end thereof, an inlet near the lower portion of that end, and bae plates to aid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said plates comprising an approximately vertically disposed plate near said end of the cooler and an approximately horizontally disposed plate having one extremity near the upper end of the vertically disposed plate, and the other extremity spaced from the opposite end of the cooler and being provided with a depending iange, and a third baffle plate extending upward from the bottom of the c ooler and having its upper end spaced from the horizontal plate.

10. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the upper portion of one end thereof, an inlet near the lower portion of that end, and baffle plates to aid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, said baffle plates including an approximately vertically disposed plate near said end of the cooler and an approximately horizontally disposed plate having one extremity near the upper end of the vertically disposed plate, and heat conducting elements extending downward from the top of the cooler and termin ating adjacent the horizontal plate.

1l. A cooler for refrigeration, comprising a container, an outlet near the upper portion of one end thereof, an inlet near the lower portion of that end, and baffle plates toaid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlet and outlet, 100 said baffle plates including an approximately vertically disposed plate near said end of the cooler and approximately horizontally disposedV plate having one extremity near the upper end of the verticallydisposed plate, 105 heat conducting elements extending downward from the top of the cooler and terminating adjacent the horizontal plate, and an upstanding rim to hold liquid upon a portion of the top of said cooler. 110

12. A cooler for refrigeration comprising a container, an outlet near the top thereof for vaporized refrigerant, an inlet near the bottom thereof for liquid refrigerant, means ar ranged to provide incoming liquid with a 115 comparatively short path to the surface of evaporation of the liquid, a horizontal surface for supporting ice trays upon the cooler, and depending heat conducting elements ex tending downward, said elements being 120 adapted normally to project below the surface of evaporationvand means aiding the circulation of the liquid from the region of surface evaporation back to the vicinity of the inlet.

13. A cooler for refrigeration comprising a container, an outlet near the top thereof for vaporized refrigerant, an inlet near the bottom thereof for liquid refrigerant, means arranged to provide incoming liquid with a. 130

comparatively short path to the surface of evaporation of the liquid, a horizontal surface for supporting ice trays upon the cooler, and depending heatconducting elements eX- 5 tending downward, said elements being adapted lnormally to project below the surface of evaporation, and means facilitating the ilow of refrigerant liquid in a substantially horizontal direction about said elements ,and aiding the circulation of the liquid from the region of surface evaporation back to the -vicinity of the inlet. 14. A cooler for refrigeration comprising a container, an outlet near the upper portion '15 thereof, inlets near the lower portion thereof and baille plates to aid circulation of refrigerant in a predetermined manner between the inlets and the outlet, said baile plates forming a comparatively shortpassage between the inlets and outlet and a comparatively long passage between the outlet and inlets respectively, thel first-named passage having staggered plates projecting `therein to impede the direct flow of refrigerant, said inlets being locatedbeneath one of .said staggered plates.

15. A cooler comprising a receptacle having a substantially upright wall and a flange extending outwardly from the Wall, said lange having an edge portion disposed below the juncture of the flange and supporting wall, and wall portions adjoining the ends of the flange and cooperating ytherewith in ai'ording a pocket open toward the bottom a liquid inlet/duct connected to the lower part of the receptacle below said pocket, a vapor outlet duct of a substantially larger size than the inlet duct being connected to the upper `part of the receptacle above said pocket.

40 16. A cooler comprising a receptacle having a substantially upright supporting wall, an outstanding iange joined to the wall, said flange having a downturned edge portion remote from its juncture with the supporting wall, and end wall portions joined to the ends of the flange, whereby an open-bottomed pocket is provided a liquid inlet duct connected to the lower part of the receptacle below said pocket, a vapor outlet duct of a subo stantially larger size than the inlet duct being connected to the upper part of the receptacle ,above said pocket.

' 17 LA cooler comprising a receptacle for containing liquid, the lower part of said re- '55 ceptacle being provided with'an inlet and the upper part of said receptacle being provided with-an outlet, the portion of the receptacle between the inlet and outlet having a plurality of pockets enclosed at their tops and sides and open at their bottoms.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

this 22nd day of January, 1927.

. ERNEST W. WESCOTT. 

